Vegetation Management

RESTORING NATIVE PLANTS FOLLOWING INVASIVE MALEPHORA CROCEA (COPPERY ICEPLANT, AIZOACEAE) ERADICATION ON ANACAPA ISLAND by Nathan W. Hale To avoid unintended complications of invasive species eradication, it is important to understand the potential implications of the techniques used in species eradication efforts. This study aimed to compare how different methods of removing Malephora crocea affect the survivorship of planted seedlings of native perennial plants on Anacapa Island. Employing a randomized complete block design in an M. crocea stand, three removal treatments were tested: 1) hand-pull; 2) spray with herbicide and leave skeletons; and 3) spray and then remove skeletons after 2.5 months. In each treatment, seedlings of three species (Leptosyne gigantea, Frankenia salina, and Grindelia stricta) and seeds of two species (L. gigantea and G. stricta) were planted. Survivorship and seed establishment were monitored quarterly between March 2010 and January 2011. For transplanted seedlings, the spray-and-leave treatment resulted in higher survivorship, while no difference was observed between the pull-treatments. Seed establishment was very low overall, but results of seeding of G. stricta showed that the spray-and-pull treatment provided for higher establishment than other treatments. L. gigantea seed establishment was inconclusive. The spray-and-leave treatment also provided the highest relative soil moisture. My results suggest that the spray-and-leave treatment provided the most suitable conditions for survival of transplanted native perennial vegetation.

Timber supplies from public native forests have declined significantly in recent decades. Consequently, wood processors are increasingly dependent on private land to maintain their throughput of native species logs. In some regions of Australia, more than 50 per cent of native forest industry log supply comes from private property. There is concern that this increased demand brings with it the increased risk of high grading in private forests-repeated removal of only merchantable stock, leaving an increasing proportion of poor ...

Bark beetles cause extensive tree mortality in coniferous forests of western North America and play an important role in the disturbance ecology of these ecosystems. Recently, elevated populations of bark beetles have been observed in all conifer forest types across the western United States. This has heightened public awareness of the issue and triggered legislation for increased funding for state and federal agencies to address issues associated with bark beetle outbreaks. Recently, US Forest Service, Research and Development entomologists from the western research stations met with US Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection entomologists, our primary stakeholder, to identify bark beetle research priorities. These include vegetation management; ecological, economic, and social consequences of outbreaks; fire and bark beetle interactions; effects of climate change on bark beetle populations; and chemical ecology.

Summary Over the last decade, substantial numbers of Eucalyptus viminalis across the Monaro plains in south-eastern NSW have been observed as declining in health. Based on a systematic road survey, the affected area is estimated to cover around 2000 km2, with almost all E. viminalis within that area either dead or severely affected. Other eucalypt species present show minor levels of health deterioration. Field observations include widespread infestation of an endemic but previously undescribed species of eucalyptus weevil (Gonipterus sp.). Eight sites were chosen to represent the range of management practices and recent fire history in the affected area. The structural complexity, tree health and level of weevil infestation were determined at each site, and despite large differences in structural elements and overall complexity, the severity of dieback was consistently severe across the range. There does not appear to be sufficient evidence to conclude that changed land management ...

Conventional habitat restoration practices often prioritise native plant diversity and structural “ecological correctness,” yet these well-intentioned approaches can inadvertently undermine conservation outcomes for threatened reptiles and amphibians. Drawing on a 2025 presentation by ecologist David De Angelis and relevant ecological research from Victoria, Australia, this paper examines how habitat management aimed at revegetation and weed removal can conflict with the ecological requirements of threatened herpetofauna. Evidence from grasslands, wetlands, and riparian zones demonstrates that many species persist in degraded, weed-dominated environments because these landscapes retain critical structural features such as open ground, thermal refuges, and appropriate basking and shelter opportunities. Case studies involving the Growling Grass Frog, Southern Toadlet, Swamp Skink, Glossy Grass Skink, Tussock Skink, and Striped Legless Lizard illustrate how overshading, dense woody revegetation, and rapid weed removal can exacerbate habitat loss, increase disease risk, or eliminate key microhabitats. The paper argues for a shift from species-centric plant restoration towards a structure-first, evidence-based approach that emphasises site-specific surveys, gradual habitat transitions, and the maintenance of open, sun-exposed environments. By challenging native–exotic dichotomies and restoration dogma, this work highlights the need for adaptive, species-specific management strategies that prioritise the immediate survival of threatened fauna while enabling longer-term ecological recovery.

This study evaluates the quality of water and sediments in a high-altitude Andean lake designated as a RAMSAR wetland of international ecological importance called Guamuéz Lake (Laguna de la Cocha). The analysis focuses on their effects on riparian vegetation, particularly on Schoenoplectus californicus (Bulrush), a keystone species in the lacustrine ecosystem. Water and sediment samples were collected from areas under varying levels of anthropogenic pressure, including zones with and without visible degradation. Results indicate that agricultural runoff, aquaculture, and domestic wastewater discharges are major drivers of spatial and seasonal variability in water quality. Elevated biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were observed during the rainy season, suggesting increased organic matter input. Sediment analyses showed that impacted areas had higher concentrations of metals such as iron and manganese and significantly elevated microbial loads. Microbiological analysis of sediments revealed a 440% increase in total microbial colonies at impacted sites compared to unaffected ones, with fecal coliforms (FC) and total coliforms (TC) increasing by 191% and 513%, respectively. This suggests that wastewater contamination promotes anaerobic conditions detrimental to S. californicus root systems, possibly contributing to vegetation dieback. The findings underscore the importance of including sediment quality assessments in aquatic ecosystem monitoring, as key indicators of riparian vegetation decline may not be evident through water analysis alone. These results call for integrated and sustainable watershed management practices to mitigate human impact and preserve the ecological integrity of this internationally recognized wetland system.

Acquisitions et services bibiiographiques The author has granted a non exclusive licence allowing die National Library of Canada to reproduce, loan, distribute or sell copies of this thesis in microform, paper or electronic formats. The author retains ownership o f die copyright in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. L'anteur a accorde une licence non exclusive permettant a la Bibliotheque nadonale du Canada de reproduire, preter, distribuer ou vendre des copies de cette these sous la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format electronique. L' auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur qui protege cette these. Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement reproduits sans son autorisation.

Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO) operates a manganese mine on Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria in northern Australia. The land is rehabilitated after mining, the pre-existing eucalypt-dominated woodland being the target ecosystem and land use. The success of the rehabilitation has been variable, with many areas failing to develop toward a mature natural woodland ecosystem due to a number of factors. Issues have included varying rehabilitation goals over time; acacias, grasses and weeds out-competing the target eucalypt keystone species, and high grass biomass resulting in frequent intense fire, so that keystone juvenile, fire-susceptible plants are killed or suppressed. Vegetation monitoring was conducted over 2.5 years at 42 sites, including reference sites in natural woodland and rehabilitation ranging from 0.5 to 19 years of age. Univariate analysis of the vegetation data found that rehabilitation was somewhat similar to natural woodland in terms of species composition, but differed markedly in structure and the relative dominance of species. Multivariate classification and ordination analyses, based on a matrix of species composition and structural data, revealed that the 33 rehabilitated sites formed six distinct groups. These groups were ranked in decreasing similarity to woodland sites, based on location in the classification dendrogram as well as distance in ordination space. Three groups of rehabilitation sites were considered appropriate, transient states along the desired vegetation development or successional trajectory. The remaining groups were deemed 'undesirable' and unlikely to develop into the target eucalypt woodland, given the disturbance regime dominated by fire, without management intervention. Ordination revealed the relationships between the vegetation composition and structure of the rehabilitation and natural woodland, on the one hand, and a range of environment and management variables. Six potential environmental or management determinants were significantly related to the variation in vegetation, including site age, litter depth, topsoil utilisation, seed mix, litter cover and fertiliser use. A field trial compared four substrates to achieve best early-rehabilitation germination and establishment. The substrates were fresh topsoil, subsoil, a topsoil-subsoil mix and a 'sandtails' waste product from mining. Subsoil achieved best germination and establishment percentages. Treatments containing topsoil showed less early establishment of keystone eucalypts and higher levels of grass cover compared to other treatments. iv A combination of a vital-attributes approach to the response of key species to time and disturbance by fire, with a state-and-transition (S&T) model of the identified rehabilitation groups, was used to develop a comprehensive S&T model of the observed and predicted rehabilitation at Groote Eylandt. The model included catalogues and diagrams of the observed and hypothetical states and transitions between states, from which a set of interventions was developed for potential application by managers to redirect deviant states. A simplified version of the model was also developed, with quantitative assessment criteria, for immediate field trialling and application. GEMCO can use the assessment criteria in their monitoring program to identify early in the rehabilitation process whether sites are on a desirable or undesirable successional pathway. Sites on undesirable pathways will require appropriate management interventions to return them to the desired successional trajectory. Potential management interventions suggested as a result of this research include enrichment planting, weed management, fire, application of mulch, fresh topsoil islands and thinning of Acacia shrubs. As further monitoring and research is conducted, the model can be refined and updated to improve GEMCO's rehabilitation management. The combination of vital attributes (VA) and state-and-transition (S&T) models in a VAST approach to defining successional development and assessment criteria in the rehabilitation of a natural ecosystem has considerable potential in ecological restoration elsewhere. It is applicable to a wide variety of ecosystems and land uses (e.g. mining, forestry and agriculture); it is practical, and valuable even in relatively simple, naïve form. It also has the virtue of being able to be refined and updated through repeated use and testing. v Acknowledgments I would like to thank the Australian Research Council (SPIRT Program C00002376), GEMCO and the University of New England for providing financial and logistical support for this project. A number of previous and current GEMCO employees have made substantial contributions to this work. Ross Browning, Maged Said, Cameron Chaffey and Leon Staude are acknowledged for their support early in the establishment of the project, and Matt Lord, Rick Peters and Ross MacDonald are thanked for their support throughout the work. I must thank my supervisors, including Nick Reid, John Duggin and Carl Grant, for their encouragement, patience, and scholarly direction. John and Carl initiated the project, along with Ross Browning (then of GEMCO), and provided early direction and support with the work and analysis. Nick provided advice and encouragement, helped with pulling the thesis together, and read each draft chapter painstakingly, for which I am thoroughly indebted. I am also very grateful to Di Davies (mum) and Rowena Smith who assisted with proofreading various parts of the final thesis. Assistance with identification of more than 250 tropical plant species was gratefully received from John Hunter (UNE), Rob Orkney, and Ian Cowie and Bob Harwood from the Darwin Herbarium. Many hours were spent in the UNE laboratory with kind assistance from Marion Costigan and fellow postgraduates. Work in the field was possible only with the support received from GEMCO staff including, Brian Todd, Matt Lord, Cindy Busbridge and the rest of the GEMCO rehabilitation crew. Ngeniyerriya!! Various employers have been generous in their support of my completing this work, in particular Haakon Nielssen and Sinead Kaufman of Rio Tinto Alcan Weipa. But no doubt the most patience and emotional support has come from my family in Armidale and partner, Michael Phillips. I could not have done it without them. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW .

Biodiversity is put simply, OUR PLANET, an incredible finely tuned and complex machine where everything including plants, animals and environments all work together in harmony, creating the web of life. So where do wetlands like the Tootgarook Swamp fit in to this web? Well amazingly right at the very top. They are considered the most biologically diverse of all the planets ecosystems, the cradle of species diversity. But despite this they are still being destroyed at an alarming rate. You might wonder, will the loss of a few wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp really make much difference? Well, biodiversity is a complex fragile structure. It may be helpful to think of the ecosystem as a woven carpet, if you pull on a loose thread it might only affect the thread and those closest to it, or it might unravel the whole carpet. Wetlands are threads keeping the ecosystem carpet together and as we pull out more wetland threads the ecosystem begins to unravel causing lots of problems.

This is the 68th annual report of the British Trust for Ornithology's Ringing Scheme, covering work carried out, and data received, in 2004. During the year, changes in bird survival in relation to winter weather were studied. In almost all cases, there was a greater influence of weather on firstyear than adult survival. A paper providing guidelines to help those setting up demographic monitoring schemes for waders was produced, with ringing as a key component. Concern about a reduction in reporting rates of ringed birds led to a study of the changes. Declines were found across nearly all taxonomic groups and may reflect a combination of changes in reporting behaviour, ringing behaviour or bird behaviour. A study of the timing of muirburning used the ringing dates of pulli in conjunction with nest record data to assess its possible effect on breeding birds. There appears to be little reason for differences in cut-off dates for muirburning in different regions and at different altitudes, but further work is required to quantify more fully the effects on moorland birds. Data gathered as part of the Constant Effort Sites (CES) Scheme showed increases in the numbers of adults of several, mainly migrant, species, possibly as a result of high rainfall in Africa south of the Sahara. Productivity was good for most species. Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti was added to the list of species covered and a study of habitat on CE sites showed that vegetation management mitigates the effect of habitat progression on catching rates. Data for 117 Retrapping Adults for Survival (RAS) studies were submitted. Over 12,000 Swallows Hirundo rustica were ringed as part of the Swallow Roost Project. The total number of birds ringed (881,920) was the highest ever, showing an 18% increase on the mean of the previous five years (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003). The recovery total (11,930) also increased (by 9% compared to the mean of the previous five years). Recoveries of 154 BTO-ringed birds and 102 ringed abroad are presented in the report. They include records that confirm suspected or known migration patterns as well as the more unexpected movements.

Dry grasslands are among the most species rich habitats in Europe, but they are also among the most threatened. Threats include too high and too low levels of disturbance. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of soil disturbance intensity on species composition and diversity in a dry grassland in Mols Bjerge National Park in Denmark. We recorded vascular plant species inside and just outside patches of bare sand, and in the transition zone between these. We found that the number of species was highest in the dense vegetation, intermediate at the transition and lowest in bare sand areas. However, an analysis of plant traits showed that the number of small annual species was highest in the transition zone. High abundance of small annual species may therefore indicate intermediate disturbance regimes. Based on a literature study we demonstrate that many threatened species are adapted to such habitats. This suggests that dry grasslands should be managed to maintain areas with ...

Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) require access to groundwater to meet all or some of their water requirements to maintain community structure and function. The increasing demand of surface and groundwater resources has seen the NSW Government put in place management mechanisms to enable the sharing of water between irrigators, the environment, industry, towns and communities via water sharing plans. The groundwater sharing plans aim to provide adaptive management of GDEs by prioritising for protection those that are considered the most ecologically valuable within each plan area. The High Ecological Value Aquatic Ecosystems (HEVAE) framework has already been adopted to prioritise riverine ecosystems for management in surface water sharing plans. Here, we provide a method developed using the HEVAE framework to prioritise vegetation GDEs for management. The GDE HEVAE methods provide a derived ecological value dataset for identified groundwater dependent vegetation that is used to inform the planning and policy decisions in NSW. These decisions are required to manage and mitigate current and future risks caused by groundwater extraction. This is achieved via the identification of ecologically valuable assets to then use as the consequence component in a risk assessment for the groundwater sources, to provide vegetation GDE locations for setback distances for new groundwater production bores, and for the assessment of impacts due to current and potential future groundwater extraction. The GDE HEVAE method uses recorded and predicted spatial data to provide weighted scores for each attribute associated with the four HEVAE criteria (distinctiveness, diversity, vital habitat and naturalness). The combined scores categorise the ecological value of each groundwater dependent vegetation community (depicted as geographic information system (GIS) polygon features) from very high to very low. We apply the GDE HEVAE method to three catchments in order to demonstrate the method's applicability across the Murray-Darling Basin with varying elevation and climate characteristics. The ecological value outcomes derived from the methods have been used to inform planning and policy decisions by NSW Government processes to allow for protection in not only areas that are currently at risk but to also manage for potential future risks from groundwater extraction.

Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) require access to groundwater to meet all or some of their water requirements to maintain community structure and function. The increasing demand of surface and groundwater resources has seen the NSW Government put in place management mechanisms to enable the sharing of water between irrigators, the environment, industry, towns and communities via water sharing plans. The groundwater sharing plans aim to provide adaptive management of GDEs by prioritising for protection those that are considered the most ecologically valuable within each plan area. The High Ecological Value Aquatic Ecosystems (HEVAE) framework has already been adopted to prioritise riverine ecosystems for management in surface water sharing plans. Here, we provide a method developed using the HEVAE framework to prioritise vegetation GDEs for management. The GDE HEVAE methods provide a derived ecological value dataset for identified groundwater dependent vegetation that is used...

The Texas Mining and Reclamation Association (TMRA) has sponsored a soil sample round robin program since 1990. To date, 17 different soil samples (including blind duplicate samples M and P) have been analyzed in a series of six rounds of analysis. Five laboratories have participated in this program. Three of these were commercial laboratories, one was an electric utility's in-house laboratory, and one was the state regulatory authority's laboratory. Samples submitted for analysis included minesoils and native soils. Results indicate that average inter-laboratory variability was approximately five times greater than intra-laboratory variability. The level of variation was affected by the sample being analyzed and the analytical parameter that was involved. The larger inter-laboratory variability suggest that a greater convergence of analytical results may be attained through a rigorous examination of individual laboratory methodologies and implementation of widely-used standard operating procedures (SOPs). An examination of coefficient of variation (C.V.) data from twelve analytical parameters indicated that pH was the least variable and trace elements were among the most variable. The inclusion of near minimum detection level (MDL) values tended to increase the C.V. of data. Analyses of variance (ANOV A) indicated that the sources of variation of most parameters were inconsistent over time. Differences in equipment, sample extraction, and personnel could also account for different values among the laboratories. Analytical parameters that exhibited a sample by laboratory (S XL) interaction suggest that there was inconsistency among laboratories over time. Samples M and P were blind duplicates of the same sample, included in the round robin to assess the precision of the participating laboratories. Results of samples M and P indicate that there was either a significant laboratory main-effect or S X L interaction for most of the analytical parameters, suggesting that either lab inconsistencies or sample heterogeneity could be the cause. The use of a standard reference material (SRM), with known parameter values, can help identify which laboratories are accurate. There are analytical considerations that require attention, such as sample preparation and pretreatment, sample extraction, and both determinate and indeterminate errors. Sample preparation is a critical step where variability can be introduced. The development and implementation ofSOPs are essential steps for any laboratory. The variable results obtained by the TMRA round robin program illustrate the need for QA/QC procedures and the use of good laboratory practices. The program's results also prompted the following questions: 1) are the levels of variability of sufficient importance to warrant additional research and 2) are there practical mine reclamation implications to the variability exhibited in the round robin data?

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that alternative vegetation management treatments (manual cutting and cutstump applications of glyphosate herbicide) would decrease plant community abundance, species diversity, and structural diversity of young mixed conifer plantations in southern British Columbia, Canada. The experimental design consisted of nine operational-sized plantations, strati®ed into three blocks (1 control, 1 manual, and 1 cut-stump plantation per block), with ®ve permanent strip-transects to sample vegetation within each plantation. Vegetation management treatments did not signi®cantly (p>0.10) affect the crown volume index of herb, shrub, or coniferous tree layers. However, both manual and cut-stump treatments signi®cantly reduced crown volume index of deciduous trees in the ®rst post-treatment year (p0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Due to proli®c regrowth of stump sprouts, the manual treatment effect did not last beyond the ®rst posttreatment year. In contrast, the cut-stump treatment impeded sprouting and, relative to control and manual treatments, continued to signi®cantly suppress deciduous growth for at least 4 years (p<0.05). Species richness, diversity, and turnover of the herb, shrub, and tree layers were not signi®cantly (p>0.10) different between treatments and control. Similarly, the structural diversity of herb, shrub, and tree layers were also not signi®cantly (p>0.10) different between treatments and control. By opening the canopy and decreasing the dominance of the deciduous tree layer, both manual and cut-stump treatments showed greater total structural diversity (herb, shrub, and tree layers combined) relative to the control. However, differences in total structural diversity between treatments and control were, for the most part, not signi®cant (p>0.10). Therefore, these vegetation management treatments affected only the volume of the targeted deciduous tree layer and did not adversely affect the species richness, diversity, turnover, or structural diversity of the plant community. These results may be applicable to other temperate forest ecosystems where conifer release is practised in young plantations.

Acting as keystone structures, scattered paddock trees play an important ecosystem service in the Australian grazing environment through influencing their immediate environment both above-and below-ground. Since these trees are rapidly being lost from the landscape, there is a need to understand their functions more fully in order to manage the landscape in a sustainable manner. This study aims to quantify how single trees influence the soil resource with depth, and to investigate the spatial extent of this influence. Once these aspects have been quantified, the optimum distribution required to remediate depleted soil conditions can then be estimated. Three isolated trees were comprehensively examined for their influence on soil chemistry to a depth of 75cm and to a radial distance of more than 3.5 canopy radii. Soil moisture, total C, N and S, extractable P, pH (1:5 CaCl2 & H2O) and EC were examined. The trees modification on soil condition was strongly dependent on the soil property examined, although typically values were higher under the tree at the surface and diminished with distance both horizontally and vertically. We conclude that single trees significantly improve soil condition and that a distance of 2.5 canopy radii is sufficient to explain the spatial influence of scattered trees. Further work is now underway to elucidate the processes that influence soils around these trees. This work will link pasture productivity and pasture quality with soil attributes in order to fully quantify the ecosystem services these trees provide in order to sustainably manage this environment, both above-and below-ground.

Professor Brian Sindel. I have been most fortunate to have received unwavering support from my supervisory team, each of whom have supported me throughout the logistical, technical and financial challenges central to the completion of such a project. I would especially like to thank Dr. Wilson for his ongoing assistance with all aspects of the project and for providing me with industry exposure, which has helped broaden my understanding of the challenges facing natural resource management. This project would never have been completed without the substantial technical assistance provided by John Lemon, who I now consider to be a great friend even despite our heated conversations about soil sampling in even hotter weather! At this point I must also thank Andrew Harrison for giving up many weekends and holidays to assist me with sampling and menial laboratory tasks. I am eternally grateful for Andrew's technical expertise and patience. Finally, to Christiaan O'Brien and Stephen Parker who have remained great friends and who managed to stay smiling even whilst sieving over 1000 litter samples! To the numerous contributors to this research, I extend my sincere thanks. Leanne Lisle (UNE), David Donnelly and Vicki Fermor (NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change) provided substantial laboratory and technical expertise to various sections of the project. Greg Chamberlain and David Edmonds (UNE) assisted with the management experiment. Dr. Lachlan Copeland (UNE) lent his enormous knowledge of NSW plants to the management experiment and Dr. Ivor Growns (NSW Department of Water and Energy) and Dr. Matthew Tighe (UNE) applied their equally substantial statistical knowledge to some very challenging data throughout the project. v I would like to thank the staff in the former NSW Department of Natural Resources (now DWE, DECC and the Catchment Management Authority) building on campus for their support and assistance throughout the project, especially Dr.